SAN FRANCISCO — Trailing at halftime after getting dominated on the boards, Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards spoke up within the locker room, sparking a third-quarter turnaround and eventual 117-110 win over the Golden State Warriors to go up 3-1 of their second-round collection.
“I informed them, ‘We solely obtained two wins,'” Edwards mentioned after Monday’s Recreation 4, recalling his message. “I’ve by no means seen a collection finish 2-1. I informed them we’ve to get two extra wins and proper now we’re enjoying like we already obtained 4 wins. … We needed to determine it out as a result of if we might have stored enjoying like that, we might have misplaced tonight.”
Edwards led the cost after the break, scoring 16 factors on 6-for-8 taking pictures, almost single-handedly matching the Warriors’ complete for the quarter as Minnesota received the quarter 39-17. It was the most important optimistic margin for 1 / 4 in Wolves postseason historical past.
Whereas Edwards jumpstarted the scoring, Minnesota’s protection held Golden State to 7-for-19 taking pictures (36.8%) and outrebounded the Warriors 10-5 after being crushed on the boards 25-15 within the first half.
“He was one of many guys that was most vocal at halftime,” Wolves coach Chris Finch mentioned of Edwards. “[He] realized what was occurring on the market and we would have liked to be higher. It began with him, actually, and setting the tone.”
Edwards completed with 30 factors on 11-for-21 taking pictures and 5 assists and veteran ahead Julius Randle scored 31 on 11-for-21 taking pictures with 5 rebounds.
The 2 have been Minnesota’s pillars of manufacturing in the course of the Wolves’ 7-2 report via the postseason to date.
Nevertheless, the 30-year-old Randle gave all of the credit score to the 23-year-old Edwards.
“I do know it begins with us, nevertheless it’s Ant,” Randle mentioned. “Ant’s the brightest star within the room … He has that ‘it’ issue. For me, I at all times attempt to inform him to go be nice.”
It was Edwards’ second straight 30-point effort within the Western Convention semifinals and third of the playoffs because the Wolves received Video games 3 and 4 at Chase Heart to create a closeout alternative in Wednesday’s Recreation 5 again in Minneapolis.
Jaden McDaniels added 10 factors and a profession postseason finest 13 rebounds and Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 13 factors on 5-for-5 taking pictures off the bench, whereas the Wolves have been capable of restrict Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to a mixed 9 factors after halftime after they scored 27 collectively within the first half.
Now the Wolves will goal to deliver the identical urgency they discovered within the third quarter from the opening tipoff Wednesday, with an opportunity to achieve the convention finals for a second straight 12 months.
“For us it is nearly defending house courtroom, being higher than that and rising,” Alexander-Walker mentioned. “It’s miles from over. This one goes to be tougher than the primary three. It is nearly having that focus to do what we have to do to get it completed.”
